Universal torch machine



Oct. 25, 1932. ,l. L. ANDERSON uuIvERsA TORCH-MACHINE Filed Feb. 11.- 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNER/ Oct. 25, 1932. J. L. ANDERSON UNIVERSAL TORCH MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZBY OR T o w a w w T L 5 38% mm n L m m; w om 3 9 i .WN o @N f .m 0 P s. E E. 9 3 0 PN .3 @N m ATTORN Y operation.

Patented Oct. 25, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JAMES L. armmson.

COMPANY, INCORPORATED, NEW YORK, N. Y

O! TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AIR REDUCTION A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK UNIVERSAL TORCH MACHINE Application med February 11, 1982; -Seria1 No. 592,348.

The invention relates to improvements in motor-operated, pivotally jointed machines for cutting or welding metal in any desired and changing directions, from a drawing, template or attern, by means of a thermal instrumentality, of which an illustration is an oxyacetylene or like torch, more particularly a cutting torch.

The object of the invention is to provide an accurate, free-moving, durable, and relatively simple machine, capable of executin irregular cu'ts or welds at even speed, wi-t out undue variation in load on the driver or excessive resistance at an point in the field of Another 0 ject is to provide a machine which afi'ords a relatively large and advantageous cutting or operating area by means of a construction which permits the machine to be made smaller or to occupy less s ace than other machines of the same general 0 ass.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine, in which the extreme overhang of the linkage is substantially reduced 5 thereby reducing the tendency to sa an making it easier to produce a firm or substantially ri id machine. The machine is one in which t carried at regions which are so arated from each other in a direction para lel wlththe work and in which the cut is executed in substantially one to one ratio to the pattern and in like directions of movement with the tracer.

There is a known type of machine having a base with two pivot posts, rimar pivoted arms extending forward rom t e posts, secondary arms pivoted to the rimary arms and extending forward from t ese, and two transverse links or bars connecting the arms so as to cause them to move in unison the torch and tracer being carried by the front link or iront bar.

Machines of the present invention. difier from the former type of machine in one or more of the following particulars:

The rimary arms are disposed to swing in arcs ack of the fixed center line between the main pivots;

The torch and motor tracer are preferably e torch and the motor tracer are nects rearward extensions of the secondary arms. 7 v I In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof:

Fig.v 1 is a plan view of a cutting machine embodying the invention; V

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the torch and tracer in different positions of those of Fig. 1, the linkage being largel broken away because of lack of space; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, the parts being shown in the positions corresponding to Fig: 1. I

he machine has a suitable base structure 2 supporting a pattern or and the mechanism. Sup al to be out are shown ad oining one end 0 the base, the work support being in general lort: 'tudinal alinement with the pattern ta e.

Two parts 5, constituting main pivots, areorts 4 for the met- .carried by the base 2 at opposite sides or ends of the pattern support or surface. These stationary pivots, instead of bein at a distance behind the pattern and wor areas, as

in former machines, are disposed within or ad'acent the zone of these areas.

he hubs 6, 7 of two primary arms 8, 9 turn on the main pivots, and the construction is such that these arms swing in arcs back of the center line between the posts. In prior machines, to which reference has been made, the primary arms and the entire linkage extended and operated-in front of the pivot posts,

Secondary arms 10, 11 are pivotally connected at 12, 13 to forwardly ofit'set knuckles 14,15 on the ends of the arms 8, 9., The arms template table 3 v 10, 11 extend forward from these pivots, but

extenslons 16 and 17 of the secondary arms,.'

to which extensions the ends of the link are pivoted at 20. The ends of the other link 19 are pivotally connected with the arms, preferably at the pivot joints 12 and 13. The transverse links may connect the arms at other points, but the construction shown is the most advanta eons. It will be observed that in this embo iment the transverse links are behind the line of the pivot posts, with which they do not interfere in the operation of the linkage, whereas the torch 21 and the tracer 22 are in front of the line of main centers.

In the best embodiment of the invention the tracer support 23 is applied to the forward end ofthe arm 10, while the torch holder 24 is carried by the forward end of the arm 11, the arrangement being such that the torch and tracer occupy similar positions on these arms. In machines of the kind hitherto known, which may be termed .the forwardly .overhanging type, having all the linkage in front of the pivot posts, the torch and tracerwere mounted on a front bar or link, on which they could be placed or ad- 'usted at various positions lengthwise of the ar. Some similar manner of supporting the torch and tracer is not necessarily excluded as a modification of the present invention, but the mounting of the torch and tracer on free ends of the secondary arms affords advantages in a machine like the on illustrated herein.

In a construction such as illustrated in which the secondar arms have rearward extensions connected y a link, the working of the mechanism is improved by disposing these extensions at an obtuse angle to the forwardly extending parts of the arms.

- The tracer is motor driven and may be either of a kind to cooperate with a template or of a. kind having a manually guided tracer wheel to operate on a drawing. Various forms of both kinds of tracers are known. The tracer illustrated is of the electromagnetic type, having one or more magnetic rollers 25 to cooperate with the boundaries or edges of temp ates of paramagnetic material. The roller or rollers are magnetically energizedby a coil in the portion 26 of the tracer,

and driven from an electric motor 27 through gearing, not shown, housed within the tracer ody. For further illustration of a tracer of this kind reference may be had to the Anderson and Rogers Patent 1,839,170, dated December 29, 1931.

The tracer body is engaged with a vertical guide 28 of the tracer support 23, so that the whole tracer can be raised and lowered, and so that it can float vertically in relation to the linkage of the machine. A further feature of the invention relates to simple and advantageous provisions for quickly lowering and raising the tracer unit, to and away from a template, and for sustaining it in an elevated position when the machine is not in action.

A lever 29 of the second order is preferably made in the form-of a yoke to pass at opposite sides of the tracer body and with a hand-hold 30 at its outer end. The ends of the limbs of this lever are fulcrumed on pivots 31'on the sides of the tracer support, and intermediate their ends they are pivoted at 32 to links 43, which in turn are pivoted at 44 to the sides of the vertically movable tracer body. This affords a very convenient and safe way of raising and lowering the tracer.

To support the tracer in a lifted or inactive position a depending catch strut 33 is pivoted at 34 on one of the limbs of the lever 29, the lower end of this strut being adapted to engage a notch in a bracket 35 on the tracer support 23.. When the tracer is lifted this strut will swing automatically by gravity, or could be swung by hand into engage- .the machine is in operation, it is desirable that the tracer be free to move vertically in relation to theuniversal movement frame, so that the tracer rests on the template by its weight, with uniform pressure neither augmented nor decreased by any vertical variation as be tween the tracer and the frame. When such relative movements occur the latch piece 33 merely slides on the end of the bracket 35,

without any possibility of accidentally catching and holding the tracer up.

The electric cable 36 for supplying energy may pass through the arms 8 and 10. Simi-- Y larly, the hose 37 for conducting gases to the torch may pass through the arms 9 and 11.

The general operation of the machine will be evident. The driven tracer follows, or is guided to follow, the pattern and the linkage causes the torch to execute t e same mcvements at a difi'erent regionto make a cut of any contour in accordance with the pattern.

till

comprising a lease,

The relative compactness of the machine and the advanta eous cutting or-welding field that is provide will be apparent to those skilled m the art. Furthermore, it will be evident that the disposition of the linkage and the location of the items of weight inrelation to the fixed center line between the posts is such that the parts of the jointed structure are more or less counterbalanced, and that even in a position such as shown in Fig. 2, with all the parts back of the posts the overhang is comparatively short an much of the weight ports.

Since various changes and modifications may he made in the machine, the foregoing description is intended to he illustrative rather than limiting,

I claim:

l A machine of the character descrihed, comprising a base, two pivot supports there on, parallel primary arms carried on said pivot supports so as to swing in arcs hack of the fixed center line between said supports, a parallelogram of ivoted memhers pivotally connected with said primary arms, and a torch and a motor tracer on corresponding separated iorward portions oi: said parallelo gram.

2, A machine of the character descriloed, comprising a hose, two pivot supports thereon, parallel primary arms carried on said pivot supports so as to swing in arcs hack oi the line of lined centers, parallel secondary arms pivoted to said primary arms and extending forward therei rom, a torch connected with the forward end of one oi the second ary arms, a motor trmer connected with the forward end or the other secondary arm, and means interconnecting the arms so that litre arms swing in unison with each other,

3. A machine oil the character descrihed, comprising a lease, two pivot supports-there on, parallel primar Y arms carried on said pivot supports so as to swing in arcs hack of the line oi fixed centers, parallel secondary arms pivoted to said rimary arms and on tending forward there'lrom, a torch connected with the orward end of one of the secondary arms, a motor tracer connected with the ion ward end oi the other secondar arm, said secondary arms having rearwar exmnsions, and two transverse links compelling like arms to swin in unison with each other, one of said lin s connecting" said rearward eaten sions and both of said links being disposed hehind the line of fined centers.

A machine oi he character described, two pivot supports ther on, parallel primary arms carried on said pivot supports so as to swing; in arcs hack oi the line oi? fixed centermparallel secondary arms pivoted to said rimary arms and extending forward there "rem, a torch connected with the forward end of one of the secondary on, parallel is kept close to the suppivot supports so as to swing in arcs hack of vcomprising two pivot sup 'mary arms swung on sea arms, a motor tracer connected with the forward end of the other secondary arm, said secondary arms having rearward extensions, a transverse link pivotallyconnecting said rearward extensions so as to compel the ondary arms to swing in unison with other relatively. to the prima arms, and another transverse link compel 'ng the rima-ry arms to swing in unison with each ot er. 5. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, two pivot supports thereprimary arms carried on said each the line of fixed centers, parallel secondary arms pivoted to said rimary arms and. ex-

tending forward there rem, a torch connected with the forward end of one of the secondary arms, a motor tracer connected vwith the forward end of the other secondar arm, said secondary arms having rearwar extensions a transverse hnlr pivotally connecting sai rearward extensions so as to compel the secondary arms to swing in unison with each other relatively to the primary arms, and means interconnecting the primary arms on compelling them to swing in unison with each other,

d, A. machine oil the character descrihed, comprising a base, two pivot supports there: on, parallel primary arms carried on said secare

pivot supports so as to swing in hack of a the line of tired centers, parallel secondary arms pivoted to said primary arms and em tending forward therefrom, a torch connected with the forward end of one of the secondary arms, a motor tracer connected with. the for ward and oi the other secondary arm, a trans verse link compelling said primary arms to swing in unison with each other, and means compelling said secondary arms to swing in unison with each other relatively to the primary arms.

if, A machine of the character descrihed, orts, parallel pri supports, a torch arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends with one. or said primary arms, a tracer arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the other primary arm, said torch and tracer arms having the torch and tracer at their tierward rtions, and. two transveme linlm piv= otally interconnecting said primary and said torch and tracer arms so that the mem-= hers of each pair of are move in unison with each other, the rearward of said linlrs connecting therear portions of said torch and tracer arms hack of the centers on which said arms turn relatively to the primary arms,

8. A. machine oi the character descrihed, comprising two pivot supports, parallel primary arms swung on said supports, a torch arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends with one of said primary arms, a tracer arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the other primary arm, said torch and tracer ltd lilii lid llti

lit)

rat

arms having the torch and tracer at their forward portions, a transverse link pivotally connecting the rearwardly extending portions of said torch and tracer arms, and another transverse link pivoted at the centers on which connected with said tracer for raising and lowering thesame, an automatic catch piece pivoted on the lever, and a support on the frame adapted to be engaged by said catch piece.

15. In a machine of the character described having a frame for reproducing universal movement in a plane, a motor-driven tracer vertically guided on said frame, and a lever of the second order fulcrumed on said frame and connected with said tracer for raising and lowering the same, said lever being in the nature of a yoke having limbs passing at opposite sides of the tracer and connected therewith and with the frame.

a JAMES L. ANDERSON.

comprising a base, two pivot posts thereon,

two parallel primary arms carried on said osts to swing in arcs back of the fixed center ine between the posts, means including parallel secondary arms pivotedto the primary arms and extending forward therefrom, said means carrying a'motor tracer and a torch at corresponding spaced forward portions, and transverse elements compelling the primary arms to swing in unison with each other and the secondary arms to swing in unison with each other relatively to the primary arms.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, two pivot supports there on, two primary arms swung on said supports so as to move in arcs back of the line Y of fixed centers, two secondary arms pivoted to said primary arms and extending forward therefrom, said secondary arms having real-- ward extensions disposed at obtuse angles to I the forward parts of the same arms, a transverse link connecting said rearwardextensions so that these arms swing in unison, and. additional means for also compelling the primary arms to swing in'unison.

12. In a machine of the character described having a frame for reproducing universal movement in a plane, a motor-driven tracer vertically guided on said frame, and a lever of the second order fulcrumed on said frame and connected with said tracer for raising and lowering the same.

13. In a machine of the character described having a frame for reproducing universal movement in a plane, a motor-driven tracer vertically guided on said frame, a lever of the-second order fulcrumed on said frame and connected with said tracer for raising and lowering the same, and a catch'for sustaining the tracer in an elevated position.

14. In a machine of'the character described having a frame for reproducing universal movement in a plane, a motor-driven tracer vertically guided on said frame, a lever of the second order fulcrumed on said frame'and 

